Govt sets up carbon capture testbeds in cement industry under PPP model
New Delhi: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has launched five
Carbon Capture and Utilisation
(CCU) testbeds in the cement sector under a first-of-its-kind national research and innovation cluster aimed at reducing
industrial carbon emissions
.
The initiative is part of India's strategy to meet its
Nationally Determined Contributions
(NDCs) and transition to a carbon-neutral economy by 2070.
The five CCU testbeds will operate under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and are designed to support translational R&D in collaboration with premier academic and industrial partners. These projects focus on developing and deploying integrated carbon dioxide capture and utilisation units in operational cement plants.
The CCU initiative, led by the Energy and Sustainable Technology (CEST) Division of DST, was launched through a special call for academia-industry consortia proposals. The objective was to deploy CCU technologies that can capture CO₂ emissions from cement production and convert them into value-added products like synthetic fuels, soda ash, urea, food-grade CO₂, or concrete aggregates.
Concrete plays a significant role in India's economy, and the cement industry is one of the hard-to-abate sectors. The DST noted that reducing the emission intensity of cement manufacturing is essential for aligning with India's national decarbonisation commitments.
On the occasion, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Atomic Energy, Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh handed over grants to the testbed teams. Secretary, DST Prof. Abhay Karandikar was also present.
Each of the five testbeds is focused on a different technological aspect such as catalysis and vacuum-based gas separation, and brings together leading cement manufacturers and research institutions.
According to DST, the outcomes of these pilot projects are expected to offer proof-of-concept for CCU deployment in the cement industry and could serve as a model for scaling up and commercialisation across other sectors. The testbeds are also expected to advance the development of catalysts, materials, electrolyser technologies, reactors, and electronics aimed at lowering the cost of green cement.
Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT); Dr. Ajai Choudhary, Co-founder, HCL; Dr. Rajesh Pathak, Secretary, Technology Development Board (TDB); Dr. Anita Gupta, Head, CEST, DST; and Dr. Neelima Alam, Associate Head, DST were present at the event held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.
DST stated that the initiative is expected to support India's broader decarbonisation pathways in hard-to-abate sectors including cement, steel, power, oil and gas, and chemicals.
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